# felicific calculus

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A quasi-mathematical technique proposed by 19th-century utilitarian ethical theorists for determining the net amount of happiness, pleasure, or utility resulting from an action, sometimes regarded as a precursor of cost-benefit analysis.

## Etymology
Widely attributed to British philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), but apparently used only by his successors.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/felicific-calculus